Rugby

South Africa have again chosen the intimidating atmosphere of Ellis Park as the venue for their marquee home test of 2015 against New Zealand, it was announced yesterday.
The Springboks won a cliff-hanger against All Blacks 27-25 at the venue in...

Ireland will bid to host the 2023 rugby World Cup, the Irish and Northern Irish governments said yesterday, formally launching a politically symbolic proposal to win the right to hold the event on their own for the first time.
Seeking to replicate...

England coach Stuart Lancaster can enjoy Christmas knowing his side are growing in confidence and depth ahead of next year’s World Cup and, though there are issues to address, they should be a formidable force on home soil.
Defeats by New Zealand...

Ben Morgan scored two tries as England produced a classic forwards performance to beat Australia 26-17 yesterday but the Wallabies showed enough to suggest there will be nothing between the teams when they meet again in the World Cup next...

Richie McCaw will become the first player to captain an international team in 100 tests after New Zealand coach Steve Hansen reverted to virtually his first choice selection to face Wales in Cardiff tomorrow.
McCaw, who first captained the side...

England head coach Stuart Lancaster denies a deteriorating autumn has reached crisis point as pressure mounts following a fifth successive defeat.
The third International against Samoa on Saturday is a match England dare not lose after New Zealand...

South Africa held off a fierce England fightback to triumph 31-28 in a thunderous test at Twickenham yesterday to make it five defeats in a row for Stuart Lancaster’s side 10 months before they host the World Cup.
Two tries put South Africa 20-6...

Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton has been nominated for the 2014 International Rugby Board (IRB) world player of the year award.
Sexton, who played an instrumental role when Ireland beat South Africa last weekend, is among five nominations...

Martyn Ziegler

Wembley’s managing director has defended the decision to host NFL games at the stadium just six days before an England Euro 2016 qualifier.
Roger Maslin admitted the state of the pitch at the national stadium is below its usual standard but that...

Valhmor Camilleri

The Malta rugby team suffered their first defeat in the FIRA-AER Division 2A after going down 27-13 to the Czech Republic, in Prague yesterday.
As anticipated, the Czechs proved formidable opponents for Malta, scoring four tries to chalk up their...

New Zealand showed all their class to grind out a 24-21 victory over England at Twickenham yesterday, weathering an early home storm to totally dominate the second half as England ran out of ideas. England, playing their first game since losing to...

Valhmor Camilleri

A tough test awaits the national team this afternoon as Malta play promotion favourites the Czech Republic in a FIRA-AER Division 2A qualifier in Prague (kick-off: 2pm).
Last week, Damian Neill’s men got their campaign off to a positive start...

Code-hopping centre Sonny Bill Williams has been given another opportunity to showcase his game-breaking ability after two years in rugby league as All Blacks’ coach Steve Hansen named a virtually full-strength team to face England at Twickenham...

Valhmor Camilleri, Hibs Stadium

Malta 31Croatia 26
Malta kicked off their FIRA-AER Division 2A group on the right footing after overcoming a stubborn Croatia 31-26 at Corradino, yesterday.
This was a committed display from the Maltese national team as James O’Brien and Vince...

Valhmor Camilleri

Malta coach Damian Neill is urging his players to keep their focus sharp as the national team kick off their commitments in the FIRA-AER Division 2A with a home qualifier against Croatia at the Hibs Stadium, this afternoon.
Malta and Croatia are...

Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has been fined A$3,000 (US$2,600) for his in-flight row with former team business manager Di Patston but escaped further sanction in the latest instalment of a scandal that plunged Australian rugby into crisis.
Beale,...

Valhmor Camilleri

The rugby national team are bracing themselves for a tough start to the new FIRA-AER Division 2A campaign as Malta host Croatia at the Hibs Stadium tomorrow (kick-off: 2pm) before playing the Czech Republic away the following weekend.
Last season,...

Valhmor Camilleri

Malta rugby coach Damian Neill has four new faces in his 30-man squad ahead of the national team’s upcoming double-header against Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Malta open their campaign in the FIRA-AER Division 2A on Saturday when they host...

Nick Mulvenney

With berths at the 2016 Olympics up for grabs, the rugby sevens world series will take on an extra edge when competition gets underway with the opening round on the Gold Coast this weekend.
The top four at the end of nine rounds of the series are...

World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson believes the ground work has been done for England to recapture the Webb Ellis trophy on home soil next year.
Wilkinson, whose drop goal won the World Cup for England in 2003, said the foundations have been laid...